Liquid-vending device



Aug. 9,1927.

F. l. DU PONT LIQUID VENDING DEVICE Filed AuiZ. 5, 1922 anc/6], du 73,7/

Patented Aug. 9, 1927.( Y

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. l`

FRANCIS I. DU PONT, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOB TO DELAWARE Cnn-CAL EN GINEEBING COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION Ol'DELAWARE.

LIQUID-VENDING DEVICE.

Application led August 5, 1982. Serial No. 579,782.

This invention relates to an improvement in liquid vending devices, andmore particularly relates to devices for vending gasoline in which theprice varies from time to time.

'I' he object of my invention is to provide a simple and eilicientdevice of this character which will enable a purchaser to obtainapredetermined quantity of liquid for each coin inserted, and which is'so arranged that the purchaser can ob'serve theamount of liquid to bedelivered for the coin inserted.

A furtherobject f my invention is to provide means for preventing theoperation of the device if the parts are tampered with to obtaingasoline without insertmg a coin.

The specilicdevice illustrated comprises a measuring device which is soarranged thatv the purchaser can observe the quantity of gasolinecontained therein before he inserts the purchase coin, together withmechanism for delivering the gasoline to the measuring device from areservoir at a lower level. The delivery mechanism is arrangedto delivera greater quantityvof gasoline to the measuring device than the maximumcapacity of said device, the surplus flowing back to the reservoir. Thesaid mechanism 1s Valso arranged to be actuated by the purchaser beforethe insertion of the coin, and is also so arranged that no gasoline willbe raised from the reservoir if the observation windows or any portionof the enclosin casing is open. The deviceis also provi ed withcoin-controlled mechanism which is: arranged to prevent the discharge ofgasoline from the measuring device until the ro r coin has beeninserted. and the mec anlsm has been released by the coin.

Theprecise nature of my invention will be best understood by referenceto the accompanying drawings, which will now be de provided,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the coin slide. Y

Fig. 4 is a side' elevation of xthe coincontrolled releasing device.

In these drawings, the reference character a designates an 011 reservoiror tank, such as is usually located underground, and which is providedwith the usua filling pipe, not shown. y v

Mounted above the reservoir in any de-l sired position for dispensinggasoline is an, air-tight casing b. c is a measuring device within thecasing b, which is supported on trunnions d which are rotatably mountedin bearings on the casing. One of these trunnicns extends through thecasing and is provided with an operating crank e. The bearing throughwhlch this trunnion extends is provided with a stuiling boxer an othersuitable means for ormin an air-t1 t joint for the purpose hereina erdescrl d.

Mounted within the casing is an air pump having a cylinder g anda liquidpump having a cylinder h. These pumps are also provided with pistonswhich are connected to each other by means of a rod i, which is providedwith a rack engaged b a toothed sector The sector is connecte toa shaftjourna ed in bearings on the 'casing .and is also provided with anoperating1 lever l: on one end thereof. The end of t is shaft to whichthe lever k is connected also extends through the casin and is somounted as to form an` air-tig t joint. l is a pipe cxtending from thereservoir a to the cylinder h and f is a second pipe extending from saidcylinder to the measurin device c. Both of these pipes are provid 'withcheckvalves which are so arranged that when the iston in cylinder h israised liquid will'be wn from the reservoir to the cylinder and when thepiston is de ressed, liquid will be forced from the cylin er to themeasuring device c, owever, the parts are in their normal operatingpositions. from pipe l is a pipe n lha. an outlet controlled b a valveo. The ve o is carried bya v connectedtoabellows ,which is supported at.one -end from an instable ExtendingY spring g supported from the whileits other end is supported on the a pipe with .atmosphere and by whichthe interior of the bellows is maintained under atmospheric pressure,while the exterior thereof is acted on by the pressure within the casingb, the parts being so arranged that when the pressure within the casingfalls to atmosphere the valve ,will be raised from its seat, asillustrated.

Extending from the cylinder g to the atmosphere is a pipe vr, havingcheck valves arranged to admit air to the cylinder g when its piston islowered and to force air into casing Z) when said piston is raised.

s is a receiver in the casing I) having an outlet pipe to the exteriorot' the. casing through which the liquid or gasoline is delivered. Thispipemay be provided with a suitable flexible pipe or hose for deliveringgasoline to supply tanks of automobiles. The outlet from the receiver iscontrolled by a valve t, which is seated by gravity and is raised fromits seat by the lever u when the lever is tipped by the measuringdevice, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

In Figs. 2 to 4, I have shown one form of I coin-controlled mechanismfor locking the measuring device c in its upright position. Thismechanism is located within the casing Z) and comprises a cam member uconnected to the trunnion d on the end opposite the trunnion to whichthe crank e is connected. The cam is provided with a slot 16 which isarranged to be engaged by a locking pin 'w when in its elevatedposition, and is also provided With a hgh portion for actuating the coinclearing mechanism. The locking pinfw is provided with a stirrup in its,central portion, -as shown in Fig. 4, which straddles a coin slide andis provided with a table 14 for the reception of a coin from a coin slotin slide w. The lower end of the locking pin 'w is connected to acounterbalance y by means of link and lever connections, as clearlyshown in Fig. 2, the arrangement being such that when no coin is on thetable of the pin fw said pin is raised by the weight .y and when theparts are in the positions shown in the drawings the slot in cam c is inline with pin fw. Mounted to slide in tion of cam o guides belowl slidem is a slide z, having a rack thereon which is arranged to be actuatedby a sector 6. This sector 6 is actuated by a bell crank 7 connectedthereto by a link 8. The vbell crank 7 is arranged to be moved in onedirection by the high yporand in the other direction by a spring 9.

The side of the measuring device as well as the side of casing b areprovided with glass portions so that the purchaser may see the amount offluid in the measuring device, as hereinafter described.

The side of the measuring device may be graduated in .any desired mannerto indicate quantity or price of the fluid, which will be denoted by thelevel of the fluid in the measuring device.

The measuring device 'c is provided with overflow openings at variousheights, which are closed by any suitable plugs 10, in the form shownthere being three such openings, the lower two 'of which are plugged,while the upper opening is open so that the level of the liquid, whichcan be retained therein, will be on a level with the lower edge of theupper opemng.

he receiver s may also be provided with glass sides and graduations ifdesired so that the purchaser can see the amount 'of fluid delivered tothe receiver from the meas.- uring device.

The device is operated in th-e following manner: The crank or lever isdepressed, which will raise the pistons of both pumps. In thepreliminary upward movement of the plstons, the upper end of the pistonrod 7 1 will enter and pass through an opening 17 1n the trunnion (Z andlock -th-e measuring device c in its elevated position. During thlsupward movement, the air draw/n into the cylinder g through pipe r, onthe' downward movement of the piston will be forced into the casing b,increase the pressure thereln, and close valve 0 through the medium ofbellows p. lThis closing of the valve o will permit gasoline to besucked from reservoir a to cylinder it and the pumps are now operated tofill the measuring device c. When the gasoline overflows from the-measuring device. lever 7c is raised to the `-position shown to releasethe measuring del vice. A coin 18 is now placed in the .coin slot inslide which is then pushed into the case until the stop 11 on the lendof the slide and stop 12 extending from the casing engage each other.This shifting of the slide will bringthe coin slot and coin over table14 on pin fw and the coin will be deposited on the table. The weight ofthe coin will depress pin fw and withdraw the upper end from the slot incam i; and thereby unlock the measuring device c. Lever e is now raisedand the contents of measurmg device c are dumped into receiver s, in

which they are retained until valve t is x' opened. If the purchaser`desires to check up the quantity of Huid delivered to receiver s. he cando so by allowing-the fluid t-o flow from the measuring device to thereceiver without resting the weight of the measuring device on lever u.When it is desired to empty receiver s, the measuring device' is allowedto rest on lcver u. which will raise valve t and permit the liquid toflow out through the outlet, past valve t. After all of the liquid flowsfrom the receivers s, the air pressure in casing b will be relievedthrough valve t, and as the pressure is the same on both sides` ofbellows p, valve o will be opened,

During the dumping of the measuring device, slide a: Will be actuatedand move the coin from the table 14 of pin w and deliver it to chute 13,through which it will' pass to a coin box in casing b.

When the measuring device is in its dumping poiition or in any positionother than an upright position', the pumpswill be locked as the pistonrod z' cannot be actuated as the upper end thereof is locked againstupward movement by the trunnion (l.

Then it is desired to refill the measuring device. it is necessary tomove the. measuring device to its vertical position. to align theopening in trunnion d Witlipiston rod This shifting of the measuringdevice Will permit valve t to close, permit spring 9 to Areturn slide ato the position shown. and as Isoon as the slot in cam lv is in linewith rod w, the ,rod Will be shifted to locking position by the Weight yand lock the measuring device in its vertical position and align theopening in trunnion d lwith' piston rod z'.

-As the pumps cannot be operated ivhen the measuring evice is in dumpingposition .With valvet open, there is no danger of fluid being stolenwhen valve t is open by i operating `the pump and collecting fluid,

I to the atmosphere may be placed in the Wall which would splash ordrain into the receiver.

The overflow from measuring device c passes to casing b, which is-returned to reservoir a through pipe m, having a check valve l'therein.The pressure of the spring of check valve 15 is suflicient to overcomethe light air pressure required in casing b for actuating bellows 12,but the pressure of this spring is not suflicient to overcome the Weightof a column of iluid in pipe m extending from reservoir a to casing b.

If desired, a suitable check valve leading of casing b to prevent thebuilding up of air pressure thereinbeyond a .predetermined maximum.

The 'valve 0 provides meansfor preventing the operation of the fluidvpump if any of the glasses' covering the windows are breken, as. thepump would not -raise the fluid, but would only suck air if the valve owere open. f

Thea-dvantages of'my invention result from the provision'of a vendingdevice in which thegpurchaser can' measure-and note the amount of fluidto be delivered Avbefore depositing the purchasing coin, and which lisso arranged that on further fluid can be drawn from the reservoir, orsupply after the measuring device is shifted from its receivingposition. .l

A still further advantage results from the provision of means forpreventing the drawing of fluid from the main reservoir and deliveringit to the delivery outlet ifthe pressure in the casing is not aboveatmosthat any type of detector can be used in connection therewith.

` Havingnow fully described my invention, what I claim and desire toprotect by Letters Patent-is:

1. A fluid vending machine having means for elevating fluid from asupply reservoir to ameasuring device, means controlled by the elevatingdevice for preventing discharge from the measuring device when theelevating device is delivering, means for discharging the fluid from themeasuring device, a locking device for the discharging mechanism, andcoin-controlled means for the lo( king device.

2, A fluid vending device comprising a l fluid measuring device, meansoperable to supply fluid to the measuring device, means for shifting themeasuring device to a discharging position, meansassociated with themeans for supplying fluid and the measuring device adapted to cooperateto prevent operation of the means for supplying fluid when the measuringdevice is shifted to a discharging position and to prevent shifting of`the measuring device when the means fo supplyinf fluid is delivering. 3.A fltiiid vending machine comprising a measuring device, means operableto lsupply fluid to the measuring device, means operable for dischargingfluid from the measuring device, means operable b the measuring devicefor the delivery of uid discharged in said measuring device, and meansadapted to prevent operation of said fluid supply means when said meansfor discharging fluid from said measuring device is operated.

4. A fluid vending machine havin a measuring device, a pump for raisinuid from a supply to the measuring evice, means operable tov dischar ethe contents ofthe measuring device an deliver it to 'a suitabledelivery means, means for preventing the. operation ofthe pump when themeans for discharging the contents ofthe measurin device is operated,and a. coincontrolle lock for preventing operation of the means fordischarging the contents of the measuring device.

5. A fluid vending device having a pivoted measuring device, means forvarying the uantity of fluid tobe retained thereby, a uid suppl at alower ,level .than the measuringvv evice, a fluid pump for raising fluid'from the supply to the measuring' device, a receiver for receiving theflui from the measuring device, means to shift the measuring device'from a filling ition to a discharging position or from a dischargingposition to a filling position, and means associated with the pump andthe measuring device adapted to cooperate to prevent shifting of themeasuring device to a discharging position when the pump is actuated andto prevent actuation of the pump When the measuring device is shifted toa discharging position.

6. A fluid vending device having a casing, a fluid reservoir, a fluiddelivery pipe extending from the reservoir to the casing, a fluid outletpipe leading from the casing 'means for increasing the pressure in ,thecasing above atmospheric pressure, means in the casing for deliveringfluid from the reservoir to` the outlet pipe through the 'delivery pipe,pressure-controlled means for preventing the delivery means from actaing when the pressure in the casing is below a predetermined point, anda coin-con trolled lock for a-portion of the fluid delivery means.

7. A fluid vending devicehaving a fluid reservoir, a fluid measuringdevice, a casing surrounding the measuring device, an air pump forraising vthe pressure in the casing above atmospheric pressure, 'a pumpfon raising fluid from the reservoir to the measuring device, meanscontrolled by the pressure in the casing for rendering the fluid pump.active or inactive, means for discharglng the measuring dev1ce to anoutlet,

for delivering the fluid to the outlet.

8. A fluid vending device having a fluid reservoir, a fluid measuringdevice, a casing surrounding the reservoir, means for raising thepressure in the casing, a pump for raising fluid from the reservoir tothe measuring device, means controlled by the pressure in the casingrendering the pump effective or ineffective, and means for dischargingthe measuring device to an outlet.

9. A fluid vending device having afluid reservoir, a fluid measuringdevice, a casing surrounding the reservoir, an air pump for raising thepressure in the casing above atmospheric pressure, a pump for raisingfluid from the reservoir to the measuring device, means controlled b thepressure in the casing for rendering t e fluid pump effective orineffective, means for discharging the measuring device to an outlet, acoin-controlled lock for vthe means for delivering the fluid totheoutlet, and means associated with the fluid pump and the measuringdevice arranged'to cooperate to prevent delivery from the measuringdevice to the outlet While the pump is delivering.

In tcstimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, atWilmington Delaware, on this l2nd day of August, 1922.

FRANCIS I. DU PONT.

